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Fraser Valley woman turns apartment home into sunny mountain retreat

Danielle Rexrode

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June 21st, 2010

When Mary Lou Black sold her Fraser Valley, Colorado, house for a two-bedroom apartment home at Wind Crest, she wanted to add her own personal touches to her new place. My house in the mountains had an open kitchen and living room that I liked very much, she says, and I really wanted to have that same feeling in my apartment.
So before a single piece of furniture was moved, Black was busy redesigning her new residence. To help with her vision, Black contacted Wind Crest s Custom Interiors Coordinator Nina Whitehead. After Mrs. Black chose her apartment, I met with her to discuss some of the personal touches and changes she was interested in, says Whitehead. One of the things at the top of her list was to open up the kitchen area to make the main living space feel larger. So we decided to remove an entire wall and created a breakfast bar with a granite countertop in its place. It turned out just beautiful.
According to Whitehead, Wind Crest residents can take advantage of a wide variety of upgrades through the Custom Interiors department including custom carpentry work such as built-in bookcases, shelving, and crown molding. They can also opt to have custom lighting, upgraded carpet, tile or hardwood flooring, tile and granite backsplashes, upgraded countertops, custom paint, window treatments, and more.
The sky is really the limit, says Whitehead. We have a reputable list of vendors and craftsmen that we trust and who we frequently work with. And I also do some of the work myself, such as arranging pictures or helping with furniture placement.
Black s living room and kitchen were custom painted in a warm gold hue, and crown molding highlights the 9-foot ceilings. A Tuscan red accent wall in the dining area is the perfect backdrop for the eye-catching bronzed chandelier. Meanwhile, the master bedroom is painted a calming shade of blue.
Since I m on the top floor, I have the luxury of high ceilings which makes it feel big, airy, and more spacious, says Black. The crown molding gives it a really finished look. The paint colors really came out beautiful too. I just love it all!
The large floor-to-ceiling window in her living room also adds to the spacious feel of Black s apartment home. There s always a lot of light coming in and the [living] room is so bright. I think that s my favorite room in the whole apartment.
As much as she once loved her house in the mountains, Black says she is more than comfortable in her new place at Wind Crest and she s extremely glad she made the move.
Here I get to enjoy all that Wind Crest offers. I have a wonderful apartment, beautiful views, and I don t have any of the work or worries that go along with owning a home. It s really been a great experience.